Critical in vitro evaluation of responsive MRI contrast agents for calcium and zinc

The synthesis of two gadolinium(III) complexes that exhibit an increase in proton relaxivity in the presence of added Ca(2+) or Zn(2+) ions is reported. The complexes increase their hydration state from zero to one following metal-ion binding, confirmed by spectral measurements on the corresponding Eu(III) complexes. At a field of 1.4 T and 310 K, modulation of relaxivity of the order of 30-40% was observed in mouse serum in each case. The dissociation constants for Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) binding were sensitive to the presence of added bicarbonate, and were 450 μM (Ca(2+)) and 200 μM (Zn(2+)) in serum. Such systems may, therefore, be considered for use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents to track the restoration of changes in metal-ion concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of the brain, following neural stimulation.     

High-throughput capillary electrophoresis analysis of biopharmaceuticals utilizing sequential injections

The complexity of biotherapeutic products implies an ever-increasing list of product quality attributes that need to be monitored and characterized. In addition, the growing interest in implementing process analytical technology in biopharmaceutical production has further increased the testing burden, together with the need for rapid testing that can facilitate real-time or near-real-time decision-making. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has made a place in biopharmaceutical analysis but is regarded as a low-throughput method, with the instrument dead time constituting more than 80% of the total time of analysis. In this study, the dead time of CE was utilized to analyse 3 mAb samples in a single-CE run. This approach resulted in an up to 77% reduction in the total analysis time and increased the productivity by up to 300%, compared to traditional single CE-ultraviolet runs, without compromising resolution or relative peak areas. Additionally, good method reproducibility was observed. The compatibility of the method has been demonstrated with protein A eluate and cation exchange chromatography fractions. We, thus, propose that sequential injections can be applied for fast and robust CE analysis of biopharmaceuticals.     

Role of Macromolecules in Medical Application: Challenges and Opportunities

The concept of macromolecules, which is applied to synthetic and natural polymers, allows for various contemporary polymeric materials and inventive uses. A dynamic structure of macromolecules called the extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains tissues and organs functioning. The cell therapy procedure known as wound healing involves depositing ECM components such as collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. The clinical assessment and management of wounds remain challenging despite the introduction of numerous therapeutic regimens because of their laboriously prolonged treatment requirements and complex wound-healing mechanisms using macromolecules of a specific type, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Additionally, proteins affect the wound site's mechanical characteristics, such as tensile strength, elasticity, and permeability, which impact the effectiveness and success of wound healing. The main goal of this article is to give a current overview of how therapeutic alternatives have evolved using cutting-edge innovative techniques for the healing and treatment of wounds. In this article, we have covered different types of macromolecules, how diet affects the wound, what causes wounds, and how macromolecules can help, and how to treat wounds.